E-payment in Nigeria sustained its growth trajectory as Nigerians spent a total of N38.7 trillion over electronic channels in January 2023. This was revealed by the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement Systems (NIBSS) in its latest report.
The value recorded on the NIBSS Instant Payment (NIP) represents a 45% increase year on year when compared to the N26.6 trillion recorded in the same period last year.
While e-payment has been gaining traction in Nigeria over the years, more Nigerians were forced to go cashless towards the end of January as the first deadline for the old N200, N500, and N1,000 drew closer. The scarcity of cash in circulation also pushed many to various electronic payment channels.
The volume of NIP transactions processed by NIBSS for the month also jumped from 348 million in January 2022 to 541 million in January 2023. This represents a 55% increase year on year.
Naira scarcity to push further growth
As the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) tries to mop up cash in circulation through the naira redesign and the revised cashless policy, more Nigerians are now embracing electronic payment. This February, for instance, the scarcity of the naira notes is forcing many Nigerians to make payments via mobile transfers, PoS, and USSD, among others.
Even when naira scarcity is eventually, the revised cashless policy, which further limiting the amount of cash that can be withdrawn by individuals and corporate organisations will further drive a surge in electronic transactions across the country.
- According to the new policy which followed the redesigning of N1,000, N500, and N200 notes, effective from January 9, 2023, cash withdrawal by an individual is now limited to N500,000 a week, while corporate organisations have N5 million withdrawal limit in a week.
- Amid the scarcity of the new notes, banks have also configured their ATMs to allow a maximum of N20,000 withdrawal per person in a day.
About NIBSS NIP
The NIBSS Instant Payments (NIP) is an account-number-based, online real-time Inter-Bank payment solution developed in the year 2011 by NIBSS. It is the Nigerian financial industry’s preferred funds transfer platform that guarantees instant value to the beneficiary.
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